Reversing switch



Dec. 15, 1942. w. A. BOWLING REVERSING SWITCH Filed May 20, 1942 2 sheets-sheet 1 Dec. 15, 1942. w.4 A. 'BOWLING 2,305,060

REvERsING SWITCH V Filed May 20, y194,2 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J5 I l V /35 i Inventar l HMUNMS Patented Dec. 15, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REVERSING SWITCH William A. Bowling, Charleston, W. Va.

Application May 20, 1942, Serial No. 443,789

3 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in reversing switches for three-phase alternating current motors, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a simplified, reliable, reversing switch of this type which can be made in various sizes and current ratings, notwithstanding a relatively small over all bulk.

Other important objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description taken in connection with the appended drawings, wherein for purposes of illustration a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown.

In the drawings:

Figure l is an end .elevational view of the embodiment.

Figure 2 is a front elevational View.

Figure 3 is an enlarged top planr view.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the stationary contacts.

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating connection of the switch between a line switch and a three-phase alternating current motor starter and the motor, showing the reversing switch installed in the motor starter and with they reversing switch in the up-position.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing the reversing switch in down-position.

Figure '7 is a schematic wiring diagram showing utilization of the reversing switch of the invention for reversing a direct current motorby reversing the elds thereof.

Figure 8 is a schematic wiring diagram showing utilization ofr the present reversing switch to reverse the charge into a storage battery on a battery charging panel.

Figure 9 is a schematic wiring diagram illustrating application of the present reversing switch to a split-phase type of single-phase motor.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 generally designates the reversing switch as a whole which comprises a generally rectangular dielectric material or otherwise suitably insulated base 6. On the topr of the base are mounted the four similar contacts 1, 8, 9, and.` I0, respectively. Each contact consists of a horizontal plate II having a ydepending lug I2 to engage the outer end of the base 6 with-the portion II lying on the top of the base and secured by means of a binding post I3 passing through a hole M in the portion II. The end of the plate portion I I is beveled or concaved as indicated by the numeral I5.

An insulated hollow cylinder I6 of approxiwidth of the base 6 has countersunk in its surface at each end thereof the contact segments I1 which are of sufficient circumferential dimension to more than bridge the space between the beveled ends I5 of the opposed contacts 1, 9 and 8, I0 on the opposite sides of the base 6, in the manner indicated in Figure 1 of the drawings when the cylinder I6 is in the position shown in Figure 1, In a diametrically opposite position from the contactors I'I are the pairs or" circumferentially spaced contactor segments I3, I9 and 20, 2| at the opposite ends of the cylinder I6..

Wires 22 and 23 connect the contactor segments i9 and 20, and I8 and 2|, respectively, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 3 of the drawings, the wires being insulated from each other.

Holding the drum I6 assembled to the base 6 and frictionally resisting rotation of the drum I6 is a spring band 24 which has one end anchored as indicated by the numeral 25` to the front end of the base 6 and has its opposite end provided with an opening receiving the hook 25 on the contractile spring 21 ywhose lower end is anchored to the rear end of the base 'as indicated by the numeral 28.

Studs 29 and 30, anchored in one side ofthe cylinder I6 between the contactors Il and the pairs of contactor segments 2I projects radially from the end portions of thefcylinder and connect at their outer endswith a handle piece 3| which has an insulating material handle 32 thereon, the handle being adapted to be grasped manually to turn the cylinder I6 from the downward position illustrated in Figure l of the drawings to the upposition in which the pairs of contactor segments iiows between the contacts 1 and I0 and 8' and 9, respectively, instead of through the contacts 1, 9

and 8, I0 in the position shown in full lines in Figure 1 of the drawings, thereby reversing the direction of the current.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings the numeral 35 symbolically designates a conventional form of motor starter in which the reversing switch of the present invention can advantageously be incorporated, with the wires 36 and 31, for instance, leading through the contacts 1, 9, and 8, I0, respectively, of the reversing switch 5 to the motor M, with the reversing switch in the down-position. In the up-position of the handle 32 of the reversing switch 5, illusmately the saine dimension in length as the trated in Figure 6 of the drawings, the current is reversed to the motor M by the consequent flow of the current through the wire 36 from the contact 1 to the contact I0 and in the wire 31 from the contact 8 to the contact 9, instead of to the contacts of the reversing switch in the first described arrangement, whereby the operation of the motor M is reversed.

Referring to Figure '7 of the drawings showing an employment of the reversing switch of the invention for reversing a direct current motor having the armature A and the shunt iield coil F, one side of the shunt iield may be connected to the contact l of the remaining side of the eld to the contact 9. The contacts 1 and 8 may be connected to opposite sides of the armature winding A and at points between the corresponding sides of the armature winding and the two lines 38 and 39 of the D. C. current supply. In this instance, changing the position of the cylinder I6 by operation of the handle 32 in the manner already described accomplishes reversal of the D. C. motor.

Referring now to Figure 8 of the drawings illustrating employment of the present reversing switch in storage battery charging panel, the letter B generally designates the storage battery which is connected with one side on the contact 9 and the other side on the contact I0, with the contacts 1 and 8 of the reversing switch connected to corresponding sides of the current supply as indicated, reversal of the charging current through the battery B being accomplished by operation of the cylinder I6 of the reversing switch in the manner already described.

Figure 9 of the drawings shows connection of the reversing switch to reverse a split-phase type of single phase (A. C.) motor 39 having a centrifugal switch 4D to open the starting winding 4|, with the opposite sides of the starting winding connected to the switch contacts 1 and 8. The contacts 9 and I0 of the reversing switch are connected to the opposite sides of the main winding 42 and to the supply current input wires 43 and 44, respectively, with a single pole hand switch 45 connected in the wire 44.

Although there are shown and described herein preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be definitely understood that it is not desired to limit the application of the invention thereto, except as may be required by the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A reversing switch comprising an insulated base, a first pair of laterally spaced stationary contacts on said base, a second pair of laterally spaced stationary contacts on said base, said pairs of stationary contacts being longitudinally spaced from each other and exposed at the top of said base, an insulated cylinder lying across said top of the base between said pairs of contacts, a handle on said cylinder for rotating the cylinder on said base, spring pressed friction means assembling said cylinder on said base and resisting rotation of said cylinder on its axis, single contactor segments on one side of said cylinder, said single contactor segments being axially spaced from each other and positioned to bridge the transversely aligned stationary contacts, two pairs of dual contact segments on the diametrically opposite side of said cylinder at the opposite ends of said cylinder, crossed and insulated conductors connecting the diagonally related contacts of the last mentioned pairs, said wires passing through the cylinder, said dual contact segments being arranged to severally engage the transversely aligned stationary contacts when the cylinder is rotated substantially a half revolution from the position in which the single contactor segments engage the transversely aligned stationary contacts.

2. A reversing switch comprising an insulated base, a rst pair of laterally spaced stationary contacts on said base, a second pair of laterally spaced stationary contacts on said base, said pairs of stationary contacts being longitudinally spaced from each other and exposed at the top of said base, an insulated cylinder lying across said top of said base between said pairs of contacts, a handle on said cylinder for rotating the cylinder on said base, spring pressed friction means assembling said cylinder on said base and resisting rotation of said cylinder on its axis, single contactor segments on one side of said cylinder, said single contactor segments being axially spaced from each other and positioned to bridge the transversely aligned stationary contacts, two pairs of dual contact segments on the diametrically opposite side of said cylinder at the opposite end of said cylinder, crossed and insulated conductors connected the diagonally related contacts of the last mentioned pairs, said wires passing through the cylinder, said dual contact segments being arranged to severally engage the transversely aligned stationary contacts when the cylinder is rotated substantially a half revolution from the position in which the single contactor segments engage the transversely aligned stationary contacts, binding posts assembling said stationary contacts on said base, said contacts comprising plates lying on the top of said base with their adjacent ends beveled to conformably engage the curved surface of said cylinder and the contactor segments thereon.

3. A reversing switch comprising an axially rotatable insulated cylinder, a longitudinally spaced and aligned pair of single contactor segments on one side of said cylinder, two pairs of longitudinally spaced and aligned dual contactor segments on the opposite side of said cylinder, the dual contactor segments being insulated from each other, means for rotating said cylinder, an insulated base having two pairs of stationary contacts thereon, the contacts of each pair being laterally spaced to align with the longitudinally spaced segments on the cylinder, said single segments being arranged to bridge adjacent contacts in one position of rotation of the cylinder and said dual segments being arranged to severally engage the contacts in another position of rotation of the cylinder, crossed insulated conductors diagonally connecting said dual contactors, and means assembling said cylinder on said base.

WILLIAM A. BOWLING. 

